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East Fork fire pushing into Blaine County

Fire now burned more than 20,000 acres

The Emergency Operations Center for the East Fork Fire that now has burned more than 20,000 acres in the Bear Paw Mountains said in a release this morning that the fire has, once again, shifted directions and now is pushing east into Blaine County.

The release said the fire has burned west of Clear Creek Road and south as far as the Hungry Hollow-Clear Creek Road intersection.

The release said standing evacuation orders and pre-evacuation warnings still are in effect.

Firefighters are fighting the fire with back burn operations, cutting fire lines and improving already existing lines, the release said, adding that the operations center has received word that a Type 1 incident management team is mobilizing to the East Fork Fire.

Type 1 is the top level of incident management teams. A Type 3 incident management team now is in command of the operation.

Several relief efforts have been set up, including an East Fork Fire Relief Fund set up at Independence Bank. People can donate to the fund at the bank and some businesses in town are taking donations for the fund.

The EOC release also said people who have resources available to use in assisting with the fire can call 406-265-5481, ext. 467, or can go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EastForkResources and enter in information.

The East Fork Fire Fact Sheets say the fire started 12 miles south of Havre Sunday and was first reported about 3:53 p.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Along with local volunteers, agencies that have responded include the Rocky Boy Natural Resources Department and Bureau of Indian Affairs,  Bear Paw Volunteer Fire Department, Kremlin Volunteer Fire Department,  Geraldine Volunteer Fire Department, Carter Volunteer Fire Department, North Toole County Volunteer Fire Department, Teton County Volunteer Fire Department, Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department, Blaine County Volunteer Fire Department, Blaine County Disaster and Emergency Services, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services and Hill County Health Department.

The fire, which started near the East Fork Reservoir on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, seemed to be fairly well-controlled by Monday afternoon, then flared up again and spread rapidly on the reservation and into private land in the Warrick region.

By Tuesday, residents of that area said the fire seemed to be subsiding, but by late Wednesday morning had again begun spreading, this time with warnings that it was moving up Miner's Gulch and approaching the reservation. By early Wednesday afternoon, the fire had jumped onto the park and into the Sucker Creek drainage.

The fire also jumped to other areas near the starting point including the Parker School area on the reservation.

Evacuations were ordered for the area south of Sucker Creek Road to the Rocky Boy Reservation line, west to Rocky Boy Reservation and east to Blaine County line at 12:59 p.m. and travel south of Bear Paw Lake was restricted to vehicles involved in the fire operation.

Five cabins and five outbuildings had been destroyed by the fire at that point.

By Thursday morning, the fire had burned 8,000 acres and pushed farther into the Sucker Creek drainage and into Little Box Elder Creek, leading to fears it could push northeast up Bullhook Road. Travel was restricted on that road as well, and residents on Bullhook Road were given a pre-evacuation warning in case the fire pushed northeast.

By noon Thursday, the fire had grown to 11,000 acres, and by 3 p.m. to 15,000 acres. The fire progression had slowed and firefighters were trying to contain it between Shambo Road and Beaver Creek.

By 6 p.m. Thursday, the fire was still listed at 15,000 acres and the EOC reported progression had slowed on the north side but was pushing into the Clear Creek drainage.

 

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